PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify ego-resilience, self-leadership, stress coping which might influence job satisfaction in ED nurses. METHODS: Data were collected by self-reporting questionnaires from 123 nurses in 10 EDs. Data analysis was done with SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: Job satisfaction showed statistically significant differences depending on age, academic background, religion, clinical career, clinical career in emergency department, position, sleeping hour and reason for working. Job satisfaction showed significantly positive correlations with ego-resilience (r=.70, p<.001), self-leadership (r=.46, p<.001) and stress coping (r=.57, p<.001). Ego-resilience (β=.54), sleeping hours over 8 hours (β=.17) and reason for working (β=.17) were significant predictors and accounted for 56.6%. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it is needed to develop a program in order to improve ego-resilience of ED nurses.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Job Satisfaction* ; Leadership ; Statistics as Topic

Frailty poses a complex challenge to the health and well-being of aging populations, particularly in South Korea, where its prevalence is substantial and increasing. This review explores the landscape of frailty assessment and management in Korea, emphasizing the transition from a disease-centric approach to one focused on maintaining functional abilities and promoting healthy aging. This review covers various frailty screening tools, comprehensive geriatric assessment methods, and targeted interventions across domains such as polypharmacy, physical activity, nutrition, oral health, vitamin D supplementation, cognitive function, falls, and social frailty. The integration of these strategies aims to address the multifaceted nature of frailty and improve health outcomes for older adults. Furthermore, the importance of regular monitoring and reassessment is highlighted to guide personalized interventions and optimize outcomes, particularly for older adults with chronic illnesses. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing medical, social, and functional dimensions, this review advocates for effective frailty management to enhance the health and well-being of elderly in Korea and globally.

Frailty poses a complex challenge to the health and well-being of aging populations, particularly in South Korea, where its prevalence is substantial and increasing. This review explores the landscape of frailty assessment and management in Korea, emphasizing the transition from a disease-centric approach to one focused on maintaining functional abilities and promoting healthy aging. This review covers various frailty screening tools, comprehensive geriatric assessment methods, and targeted interventions across domains such as polypharmacy, physical activity, nutrition, oral health, vitamin D supplementation, cognitive function, falls, and social frailty. The integration of these strategies aims to address the multifaceted nature of frailty and improve health outcomes for older adults. Furthermore, the importance of regular monitoring and reassessment is highlighted to guide personalized interventions and optimize outcomes, particularly for older adults with chronic illnesses. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing medical, social, and functional dimensions, this review advocates for effective frailty management to enhance the health and well-being of elderly in Korea and globally.

Frailty poses a complex challenge to the health and well-being of aging populations, particularly in South Korea, where its prevalence is substantial and increasing. This review explores the landscape of frailty assessment and management in Korea, emphasizing the transition from a disease-centric approach to one focused on maintaining functional abilities and promoting healthy aging. This review covers various frailty screening tools, comprehensive geriatric assessment methods, and targeted interventions across domains such as polypharmacy, physical activity, nutrition, oral health, vitamin D supplementation, cognitive function, falls, and social frailty. The integration of these strategies aims to address the multifaceted nature of frailty and improve health outcomes for older adults. Furthermore, the importance of regular monitoring and reassessment is highlighted to guide personalized interventions and optimize outcomes, particularly for older adults with chronic illnesses. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing medical, social, and functional dimensions, this review advocates for effective frailty management to enhance the health and well-being of elderly in Korea and globally.

Frailty poses a complex challenge to the health and well-being of aging populations, particularly in South Korea, where its prevalence is substantial and increasing. This review explores the landscape of frailty assessment and management in Korea, emphasizing the transition from a disease-centric approach to one focused on maintaining functional abilities and promoting healthy aging. This review covers various frailty screening tools, comprehensive geriatric assessment methods, and targeted interventions across domains such as polypharmacy, physical activity, nutrition, oral health, vitamin D supplementation, cognitive function, falls, and social frailty. The integration of these strategies aims to address the multifaceted nature of frailty and improve health outcomes for older adults. Furthermore, the importance of regular monitoring and reassessment is highlighted to guide personalized interventions and optimize outcomes, particularly for older adults with chronic illnesses. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing medical, social, and functional dimensions, this review advocates for effective frailty management to enhance the health and well-being of elderly in Korea and globally.

We aimed to investigate epidemiology and host- and pathogen-related factors associated with clinical severity of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children after rotavirus vaccination introduction. Factors assessed included age, co-infection with more than 2 viruses, and virus-toxigenic Clostridium difficile co-detection. Fecal samples and clinical information, including modified Vesikari scores, were collected from hospitalized children with AGE. The presence of enteric viruses and bacteria, including toxigenic C. difficile, was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 415 children included, virus was detected in stool of 282 (68.0%) children. Co-infection with more than 2 viruses and toxigenic C. difficile were found in 24 (8.5%) and 26 (9.2%) children with viral AGE, respectively. Norovirus (n = 130) infection, including norovirus-associated co-infection, was the most frequent infection, especially in children aged < 24 months (P < 0.001). In the severity-related analysis, age < 24 months was associated with greater diarrheal severity (P < 0.001) and modified Vesikari score (P = 0.001), after adjustment for other severity-related factors including rotavirus status. Although the age at infection with rotavirus was higher than that for other viruses (P = 0.001), rotavirus detection was the most significant risk factor for all severity parameters, including modified Vesikari score (P < 0.001). Viral co-infection and toxigenic C. difficile co-detection were not associated with any severity-related parameter. This information will be helpful in the management of childhood AGE in this era of rotavirus vaccination and availability of molecular diagnostic tests, which often lead to the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens.
Bacteria ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Clostridium difficile ; Coinfection ; Epidemiology* ; Gastroenteritis* ; Humans ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Rotavirus* ; Vaccination*

Background: Physicians and caregivers are conflicted over whether to inform patients that their disease is terminal. Studies examining the effect of awareness of prognosis on the survival and quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients report conflicting results. This study aimed to assess the effects of prognosis awareness on the survival time and psychological health of terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: Patients in the hospice wards of two general hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire. All were mentally alert and could express themselves clearly. Awareness of prognosis was defined as knowing both the diagnosis and exact prognosis. Survival time was defined as the time from hospital admission to death. Multiple psychological examinations were conducted to verify the effect of prognosis awareness on psychological health. Results: Of the 98 subjects who met the inclusion criteria, 65 (66.3%) were aware of their terminal status. The patients’ awareness was significantly related to survival time after adjusting for clinical variables with a hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.86). Furthermore, the unaware group had a higher risk of cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination <24; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.65; 95% CI, 1.26–10.59) and a poorer quality of life (physical component summary of the Short Form 36-item Health Survey <20; aOR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.12– 11.60) than the aware group. Conclusion Knowledge of the exact prognosis might have a positive effect on the survival and quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients.

Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fragility fractures. Serum iron level may interact with bone health status. This study investigated the correlations of BMD with serum iron level, hemoglobin level, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the medical records of premenopausal women in South Korea. The women’s BMDs and the Z scores of the BMDs were verified using dual-energy X-ray absorption. The participants were stratified into quartiles for analyses of the associations of BMD with serum iron level, TIBC, and hemoglobin level. Results: A simple linear regression analysis revealed associations of changes in BMD with iron level (β=-0.001, standard error [SE]=0.001, P<0.001), hemoglobin level (β=0.015, SE=0.003, P<0.001), and TIBC (β=0.001, SE=0.001, P<0.001). This pattern was also observed in a multiple linear regression analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of iron level and TIBC for low BMD revealed odds ratios of 1.005 (P<0.001) and 0.995 (P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion This study demonstrated clear relationships of changes in BMD with serum iron level and TIBC, and thus confirms the usefulness of these markers in the clinical evaluation of iron storage and BMD in younger women.

Background: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is associated with reduced testosterone levels and an increase in various physical, mental, and emotional changes in men with age. Several lifestyle factors, including smoking, are reported to be related to LOH; however, very few studies have sufficiently investigated the relationships between smoking and the symptoms of LOH. This study aimed to use the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM) questionnaire to assess the associations between smoking and LOH symptoms in Korean men. Methods: Men who underwent medical check-ups and transrectal ultrasonography at a university hospital between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2021 (n=793) were included in this study. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the risk of LOH symptoms among non-smokers, exsmokers, and current smokers, with adjustments for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and exercise and education levels. Results: There were significant correlations between LOH symptoms, as assessed using the ADAM questionnaire, and smoking status. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors indicated that the risk of LOH symptoms was higher in the ex-smokers (odds ratio, 2.446; 95% confidential interval, 1.511–3.962) and current smokers (odds ratio, 6.664; 95% confidential interval, 3.485–12.74) groups. Conclusion These results indicate a positive correlation between smoking and LOH symptoms in Korean men. Nevertheless, large-scale studies are required to further validate these findings.

Background: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is associated with reduced testosterone levels and an increase in various physical, mental, and emotional changes in men with age. Several lifestyle factors, including smoking, are reported to be related to LOH; however, very few studies have sufficiently investigated the relationships between smoking and the symptoms of LOH. This study aimed to use the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM) questionnaire to assess the associations between smoking and LOH symptoms in Korean men. Methods: Men who underwent medical check-ups and transrectal ultrasonography at a university hospital between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2021 (n=793) were included in this study. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the risk of LOH symptoms among non-smokers, exsmokers, and current smokers, with adjustments for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and exercise and education levels. Results: There were significant correlations between LOH symptoms, as assessed using the ADAM questionnaire, and smoking status. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors indicated that the risk of LOH symptoms was higher in the ex-smokers (odds ratio, 2.446; 95% confidential interval, 1.511–3.962) and current smokers (odds ratio, 6.664; 95% confidential interval, 3.485–12.74) groups. Conclusion These results indicate a positive correlation between smoking and LOH symptoms in Korean men. Nevertheless, large-scale studies are required to further validate these findings.